Thursday, December 1, 2011

Update on 2011 RC17

M.P.E.C. 2011-W34, issued on 2011 Nov. 22, 02:33 UT, announced the discovery by Leonid Elenin (H15 ISON-NM Observatory, Mayhill) of a new unusual minor planet, with the temporary designation of 2011 RC17. At that time, its preliminary orbital solution provided a comet-like orbit, with a= 6.3 AU, e= 0.53, Incl. = 11.3 deg, and a period of nearly 16 years.

At first we observed this object on 2011 Nov. 22.4, remotely, through the Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD. On our stacking it appearance was stellar, however we wanted to secure more images about it, in order to obtain a higher S/N, to make sure about its nature.

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Comets & Asteroids news

Welcome to our Astronomy blog, devoted in particular to Comets & Neo and related topics. This blog is maintained by the Team of observers of Remanzacco Observatory in Italy, particularly active in the study of the small bodies of the Solar System.